Fostering creativity through children's books

Children sat curiously and focused waiting for each page to turn at Megan Morris’ book debut and reading Sunday, March 1, at Barnes & Noble in Dr. Phillips. 

The Windermere resident and mother of three has found joy and passion in writing children’s books, and on Jan. 9, she released her book “How to Catch a Leprechaun.” 

The 48-page book about a troop of leprechauns and children’s creative ways of trying to catch them is aimed at children ages 3 to 12. 

Morris said she always has had a love for holidays, because her mother enjoyed celebrating each one of them to their fullest potential. 

Because of Morris’ core memories putting out candy and silver dollars for the leprechauns with her siblings, decorating shamrock cookies and creating simple, yet fun traps to catch the mischievous fairies, she knew that was something she wanted to do when she had children of her own. 

When she had kids, she introduced them to the tradition she once enjoyed with her mother and siblings. 

“It was just a really fun way to get the kids engaged, enjoy the holiday and just a fun, easy thing to do with them,” she said. 

Over the years, she said the traps her children created became more advanced. 

“I came home one day, and my son had actually put a rope through the chandelier, and he had devised a pulley system to try and catch the leprechauns,” Morris said. “I had a little bit of a heart attack, but it was all OK. … The kids got really ornate.” 

She remembers how fun it was to cause some mischief during the night and see her children’s reactions in the morning.  

“I used to write their names on their lunch bags the night before, and one year, (the leprechauns) scribbled out the children’s names and drew silly pictures,” she said. “Another year, my dogs all had green nail polish on. Art would be hung upside-down or at least crooked and a general upside-down and overturned everything and anything. My kids loved this as much as making the traps in the first place.” 

So much so, Morris and her now-adult children initially wrote “How to Catch a Leprechaun” when they were young. 

Although that version was lost, Morris knew she had to revive it and turn it into a children’s book for herself, her children, and other children and families around the country. 

“I tried to remember as much as I could from the first version and then we put it together again,” she said. “It was a family effort and something that meant a lot to us. It’s something to laugh about and reflect on some of the fun traps that the kids came up with and how the leprechauns always just got away. … We thought it’d be fun for us to have it and memorialize it.” 

Now, she’s spreading that joy and creativity to other families in Windermere and its surrounding areas. 

Ariel Anaya, of Winter Garden, brought his children to the book debut and said he is excited to introduce his children to the creative ways they can catch a leprechaun — or try to, at least. 

“They’re getting introduced to leprechauns now as they’re 4 and 2,” Anaya said. “They’re discovering what it is about St. Paddy’s Day that makes it so special. We’re going to make sure to try and catch a leprechaun, and I think Megan might even give us a trap idea. … Megan is a dear family friend and to see her take on this adventure of writing a children’s book given how close she is to my girls, it’s a nice full-circle moment to see her reading her release to them.” 

Morris’ friend Maggie Kennedy became emotional at the book debut, as they’ve been friends for 30 years. 

Kennedy said it is special for Morris to be writing children’s books — especially in a world full of technology. 

Kennedy said Morris has the most beautiful soul, which makes it easy to support her and stand behind her passion projects such as “How to Catch a Leprechaun.” 

The whole process from reviving the book to having it published took an entire year. And although the process was long, it was not difficult, Morris said. 

Working with her children on it once again was very meaningful to her, and she hopes it brings families together like it did hers. 

She also visited Keene’s Crossing Elementary School to read her book to the children.

“Those kids were just darling,” Morris said. “Oh my goodness, they were so much fun; I just loved it.” 

To her, this book means more than just words. 

It’s a way to foster creativity in children while bringing families together to create unforgettable moments.